Seville - Casa de Pilatos

Casa de Pilatos

by Josephine Quintero

La Casa de Pilatos (Pilate's House) is the finest example of a civil (as opposed to royal) palace in Seville. The building is a mixture of Italian Renaissance and Spanish Mudéjar adorned with precious tiles, and has well-kept gardens.

The initial construction of the palace was begun by Pedro Enríquez de Quiñones, IV Chief Governor of Andalucía, and his second wife Catalina de Rivera, founder of the Casa de Alcalá, on land seized from a Jewish family in the Inquisition. The price paid for the land by Pedro Enriquez was unusually high, as the palace a reliable water supply, via the Caños de Carmona aqueduct.

The palace was completed by their son Fadrique Enríquez de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Tarifa, known as Don Fadrique, and grandson Pere Afan de Ribera. More History >

The Casa de Pilatos is famous for its magnificent patio and gardens, while the coloured azulejos (ceramic tiles) are considered to be among the finest in Seville.

Filming

Several international films have scenes filmed in Casa de Palatos; Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, Harem in 1986, 1492: The Conquest of Paradise in 1992, Kingdom of Heaven in 2005, and Knight and Day in 2010.

Practical Advice

This large palace is worth taking a few hours to walk around at your own pace, so you can admire the dazzling decoration - the classical statues, the colourful tiles in countless patterns, the 3D carved wood ceilings. The ground floor area (Summer Palace) is best visited with the personal audio guide, whilst the upstairs (Winter Palace), optional to visit, must be seen on a guided tour at a set time.

If you can't visit the Alcazar, Casa de Pilatos is a good alternative. While the entrance fee is high for Seville (minimum 8 euros as of November 2016), it's well worth the price if you can allow two hours or so. Note that's there's no café at the palace and, unusually for Sevilla, not many in the immediate environs.

Opening Hours:Winter season: (November to March): From 9am to 6pmSummer season: (April to October): From 9am to 7pm.

Admission Complete House ticket: 10 euros (with a guided tour to the upper floor)Ground Floor ticket: 8€Both types include an audioguide per person, available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German and Japanese.